Floating Together is a striking new inflatable artwork by Palestinian artist Malak Mattar which is currently on display at London’s Southbank Centre. Glow Inflatables Ltd is extremely proud to have collaborated on this important project.
Installed on the Riverside Terrace as part of the Southbank Centre’s Summer programme and Refugee Week celebrations, Floating Together demonstrates how inflatable design can move beyond spectacle to become a powerful medium for storytelling and social engagement.
Inspired by colourful swimming floats, Mattar’s installation draws on deeply personal memories of growing up by the sea in Gaza. What were once joyful symbols of childhood gradually became reminders of dangerous journeys undertaken by those seeking safety across the Mediterranean.
The large-scale inflatable forms retain the playful appearance of beach inflatables while carrying a far deeper message. Illuminated after dark, the installation acknowledges that many refugee journeys are made under the cover of night with a hope for compassion.
Adding another layer of meaning, some of the decorative patterns covering the inflatables were created by young people from Ukraine and Greece, as well as including drawings by children from Gaza.
Unlike traditional sculptures, inflatables possess a softness and familiarity that immediately invite curiosity. Their lightweight construction allows artists to create enormous forms that would be difficult to realise using conventional materials.
Projects like Floating Together demonstrate that custom inflatables have matured into a respected medium within contemporary art. They offer artists an opportunity to engage audiences on a monumental scale while remaining playful, accessible and emotionally resonant.